Hinge structure



Sept. 15, 1936.

w. K. NELSON 2,054,680 HINGE STRUCTURE Filed July 12, 1955 FIG- 2 INVENTOR. I

BY m w ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE National CasketCompany, Boston, Mass, a corporation of N ew York Application July 12',

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hingestructures, and it is among the objects thereof to provide a hingedjoint-especially adapted for' use on burial receptacles although theform' of hinge" may beemployed generally and especially to replace thecommon form of so-calliad piano hinge.

The description of" the invention will be in connection with itsapplication to burial receptacles as an illustrative embodiment only, itbeing understood that I'do not desire to limit my invention thereto.

The invention will become more apparent in connection with a descriptionof the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof in which likereference characters designate like parts and. in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a burial receptacle having a frontdrop so-called which is a hinged element embodying the principles ofthis invention;

Fig. 2 a view in perspective of a portion of the rear of the dropillustrating the hinge member;

Fig. 3 a front elevation of the casket greatly reduced and constrictedillustrating the open or dropped position of the casket front wall;

Fig. 4 a, plan view of a portion of the hinge as applied to a hingedjoint;

Fig. 5 a transverse section of the hinge member in the closed position;

Fig. 6 a cross-section of the hinge in the open position; and

Fig. 7 a view in perspective of a clip element employed in the hinge aswill be hereinafter explained.

The numeral I, Fig. 1, designates a casket having a front drop 2 which,as shown in Fig. 3, is lowered or opened to produce a couch effect whenlined. The drop member 2 has heretofore been hinged to the casket sideby the conventional form of piano hinge which consists of two longstrips having coacting slotted portions that interact with a hinge pin,the length of the pin being coextensive with the length of the memberwhich it is designed to secure. The piano form of hinge is expensive andwhen used on burial receptacles requires the removal of the paint orother coating to prevent spalling when the hinge is worked, which is atedious and expensive operation. The present form of binge obviates thisdifficulty and it is less expensive to manufacture while it retains thestrength and desirable operating characteristics of the piano hinge.

In accordance with my invention, I utilize a 1935, Serial No. 30,993

strip in the shapeof the member 3, Fig. 5. ofthe. drawing, which isprovided with'a bead- 4 at its centralportion and laterally extending:hook.- like wing elements 5, the strip 3 constituting the. pivot memberof the hinge. Hinge lugs 6 cooperate with the pivot strip 3, thelugsbeing attached to the members to be hinged designated. by: thenumerals l and 8 and being. curved asshown at 9 to constitute a slidingabutment for the elements 5 of the pivot strip. The ends of the lugs 6are shaped complementary to the bead of the pivoted strip and terminatein a lateral flange Ill. The ends of wall members 1 and 8 are chamferedto constitute fulcrum points when hinged as shown in Fig. 6. Bychamfering the ends of members I and 8, any thickness or gage of metalcan be hinged in this manner.

The hinge lugs 6 are oppositely spaced as shown in Fig. 4 and aresecured to the members to be hinged by soldering, brazing or riveting, asoldered mount being designated by the numeral H; The spacing of thelugs is in accordance with the strength of the joint required, Fig. 2illustrating the spacing of the lugs a substantial distance apart whichsufiices for the application of the hinge burial receptacles whichrequire a, hinge that will resist a strain of about four hundred pounds,whereas the spacing in Fig. 4 is close and materially increases thestrength of the joint.

The cooperative function of the pivot strip and hinge lugs together withthe body of the members hinged is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of thedrawing, Fig. 5, showing what would be the closed position of the drop 2in the casket, which is also shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, wherein alatch I2 is provided to secure the drop in its closed position. In thatposition the lugs and hinge strip or bar are interlocked to preventseparation and displacement of the cooperating members. Thisinterlocking position of the members is retained when the hinged partsare in their open position as shown in Fig. 6 as the edge of the membersI and 8 abut against the hinge bar as shown and. the hinge bar abutsagainst the hinge lugs as shown.

The resulting structure is simple in form, economical in its manufactureand application, and of durable mechanical quality. As shown in Fig. 1of the drawing, the hinged member 2, when closed, completely obstructsthe hinge structure excepting the bead 4 of the pivot strip which,however, not being subjected to movement, does not require removal ofthe surface finish as in the piano form of hinge, thus eliminating atedious and expensive scraping operation in casket constructlon.

To assemble the hinge parts, the pivot strip 3 is inserted with its beadportion in the space between the members to be hinged. The lugs 6 arethen placed in staggered relation as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, andthe fiat portion of lug 6 is then soldered to the metal surface of themembers to be hinged designated by the numerals and 8 in the drawing,the numeral l I indicating the solder. Lugs 6 are preferably perforatedat 6a to facilitate the spreading of the solder underneath the lugs.

When assembled, the pivot strip cannot be removed from between the lugsas the wall of the casket constitutes end abutments at I3 which preventsdisplacement of the pivot strip.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated anddescribed, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in the details of construction and in thearrangement of the cooperating parts without departing from theprinciples herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A hinge comprising a relatively wide pivot strip having a depressedcentral portion and laterally extending wing portions curved at theirends, lugs cooperating with said strip having a curved portioncomplementary to the curvature of the lateral wing portions of the pivotstrip and having a depressed portion complementary to the centraldepression of the pivot strip, said pivot strip being disposed with itscentrally disposed portion extending between the members to be hingedand said hinge lugs being fastened to the hinged member whereby thehinge strip, lugs and the edges of the hinged members coact to form aslidably interlocked assembly.

2. A hinge comprising a pivot strip of thin gage flat material preshapedto form a channel having laterallyv extending portions, the ends ofwhich are curved, hinge lugs adjacent the pivot strip having tonguesprojecting into the channel portion of the strip and having a curvedinner surface for engagement with the curved ends of the lateralportions of said pivot strip, alternate lugs being oppositely disposedand being secured to the members to be hinged, and said hinge lugshaving laterally extending end portions for abutting fiat surfaces onsaid pivot strip, the members to be hinged abutting against a bead-likeportion forming the channel of the pivot strip to constitute fulcrumsfor the pivot strip when the hinged members are subjected to pivotmovement.

WALTER K. NELSON.

